The Canadian students who found a second home in Essex

Canadian students who discovered a second home in Essex are expressing profound sadness over the impending closure of their unique campus.

Karen Pink, 41, who received a bursary to study abroad, described the news of the planned closure as "absolutely devastating." She stated, "I really love it here, it became a second home." Pink finally realized her 20-year ambition to study at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador's international campus in Old Harlow in 2024.

Like many former students, Pink was heartbroken to learn that the Canadian university will cease operations at its Essex campus at the end of August. The university cited declining student numbers, rendering the campus "not financially sustainable."

For Pink, the experience extended beyond academics; it was "about experiencing a different culture." This raises the question of what made the Old Harlow campus so special to its students.

Established in 1969, the campus's closure has left many alumni feeling devastated. Pink shared her emotional reaction: "I get very emotional thinking about it because I had waited so long to come here and now two years later they're going [to] close the campus."

Studying at Harlow had been Pink's "life goal" since she first learned about it during her first year of university in 2003. However, family obligations and the Covid-19 pandemic led to pauses in her studies, eventually leading her to focus on visual arts and art history.

Pink recalled her initial arrival: "The first time I came here, there was nothing but welcome." She recounted how a local gentleman, knowing her passion for thatched roofs and old architecture, took her and her professor on a drive around Sawbridgeworth and nearby villages before the rest of her group arrived.

As an art student, the campus's proximity to London's numerous galleries was a significant advantage, but she equally cherished returning to the tranquility of Old Harlow and its friendly residents. Upon hearing of the closure, her immediate thought was, "OK, well, I'd love to come here one last time and say goodbye."

Despite being 2,327 miles (3,745 km) from its main campus in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Harlow campus remained an integral part of Memorial University. Students pursued studies for several months in diverse fields, including teaching, business, biochemistry, biology, visual arts, theatre, and social sciences.

The campus was the brainchild of Lord Taylor of Harlow, who, after contributing to the creation of the new town of Harlow post-World War Two, became president of Memorial University across the Atlantic. Lord Taylor famously remarked at the time, "I think it would be rather fitting if the oldest town in the New World is linked to the newest town in the Old World."

Leighanne Trotter, Kel Parsons, and Karen Pink (pictured left to right) recently visited the campus one last time from Canada.

Leighanne Trotter, 33, also returned to Harlow for a final visit. Her studies in 2012 coincided with Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee and the Olympics. Trotter, who holds a bachelor of fine arts degree, described the experience as a young person: "As a young kid it felt amazing to be able to be in a different country and experience all these new things."

She characterized the news of the campus closure as "heart-breaking." Trotter added, "It's been such a pinnacle point in my life that I got to experience and I was hoping that many future [students] after me would it be able to." She emphasized, "It was one of the big points for why I wanted to go to Memorial University."

Kel Parsons, 24, who studied at the Essex campus in 2024, felt "right at home from the get-go." She observed, "People seem to like the Canadians over here and I made a good few friends while I was here that I ended up keeping in touch with," calling it a "life-changing experience."

Like the other students, Parsons found the array of cultural opportunities invaluable for her studies. She explained, "The only reason I came to this specific programme is because you get to have this exchange [to Harlow] and this breadth of knowledge that you just really wouldn't get anywhere else."

Dr. Gerard Curtis, a professor of visual culture and art history at the university, expressed his shock at the news of the campus closing. Curtis, one of about a dozen staff members at the campus, has divided his time between England and Canada for approximately 30 years. He described the closure as "bittersweet for myself after all of these years of teaching here."

Curtis continued, "We're in shock that the university, the board of regents, the president haven't seen the benefits this campus could offer." He believes there's still time to fight for its continuation: "We've got probably a year or two that we can still battle to see this campus through and see the vision of it continue to grow and develop."

A university spokesperson confirmed that academic programming concluded on July 31.

Dr. Janet Morrison, president and vice-chancellor of Memorial University, stated, "Harlow was a transformational learning experience for those who experienced it, and we recognize that there are feelings of grief associated with its closure." However, she explained the financial reality: "However, with fixed overhead costs approaching $1 million (£532k) annually since 2022 and less than 1% of the student population able to attend each year, the Harlow Campus is not financially sustainable."

Dr. Morrison concluded, "We are being responsive to the pressures facing universities around the world. By making courageous choices now, we are positioning Memorial University to be stronger, more focused and more resilient."

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